Asquith Bottom House, Sowerby Bridge

The sketch and description were originally published in The Halifax Courier in 1912-1913. The long, rambling and oddly-shaped old building occupies a somewhat obscure site directly beneath St George’s Church at Quarry Hill. No connected story has ever been compiled of Asquith Bottom but it was undoubtedly built not later than the early part of the 16th century. It is generally presumed to be the first house erected in what is now known as Sowerby Bridge. Of course many alterations, improvements and additions have been made since then but the front of the original building remains intact, this side not having been encased with stone along with the rest of the building in later years. It is one of the few examples in the parish of Halifax where the original wooden building is still used as habitation, two others being Shibden Hall and Sunnybank. PH/28.